Building the New Normal
In the new world of work for your organization to survive and grow you must be capable of change. That is only possible by growing your skills library and retaining top talent. The right team gives your organization the tools, skills, and abilities to adapt quickly and act decisively in response to environmental constraints or opportunities.
The path to organization resilience is strengthened when you make learning and development a priority in your organization. Why? First, it makes it clear to your employees you see them as key to your organizations success. Secondly, providing the means for individual growth and learning for your employees demonstrates you are listening to their needs. It holds and shares organizational knowledge reinforcing shared purpose and values. The incremental gains made over time fuel innovation.
As organization architects when we study high performing organizations there is a common thread of adoption, evolution and innovation. Year over year changes and pivots in how things are done. This process of innovation is key to becoming the next best version of your organization. By creating a culture of constant change and innovation you set the stage for a much more adaptive and successful organization.
The new status quo of work from home is a leading example. Both the public and the private sector are currently sizing the future need of physical commercial workplaces. Many people and the organizations they support have already adapted to the work from home model and recognize the advantages. Are we going to change back? Each organization is different but in the coming years the shift is clearly away from centralized work, greater adoption of technological solutions, and a focus on models of engagement and flatter systems of control.
A key driver of change is diversity and inclusion that crosses ethnicity, culture, and ideas. Organizations that include Virgin, Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon are leading examples of the power of broad diversity and inclusion. These and other organizations are relentless in their invitation to all people to participate with their whole selves. Building organizations where people are safe to challenge norms, think differently, ask why, and test what is possible. If people are the engine, diversity and inclusion is the fuel.
The success and growth of your organization is based upon how much you invest in your people, how willing and able to adapt you are, and how accepting of different perspectives you are and your skill in capitalizing on them.